THE LANGUAGE OF BIRDS. 
189 
his fathei'^s song, which he will always intermingle 
with his acquired air, and, consequently, never per- 
form it perfectly." 
Most persons admire birds thus educated ; but 
where they have so fine a natural song as the canary 
has, those who prefer nature to art give the prefer- 
ence to the self-instructed songster; and I must 
confess I am one of the latter. The plumage of the 
canary varies from that of deep yellow to the palest 
primrose. The delicacy of its appearance, and the 
docility of its nature, render it a fit emblem of youth 
and innocence ; like the beautiful and sweet-scented 
primrose, the dress of the canary has no splendid 
colours to attract attention, but, like that flower, its 
delicacy of appearance, and native loveliness, insure 
our regards. It may be compared to a young and 
spotless maiden, whose chief attraction is her purity 
and innocence. 
How capable this sweet warbler is of soothing the 
feelings of one whose heart had not been corrupted 
by an intercourse with the world, may be inferred 
from the following exquisite lines to a favourite 
canary bird, by Fawcett 
